Incinerator seals

Abstract

Incinerator improvements involving seals around a pulsing hearth floor or between moving hearth floor sections. The seals reduce or prevent the passage of contaminating gases into or out of an incinerator chamber having a moving hearth. The seals may utilize troughs filled with a fluid such as water, sand, or pebble-like material. Alternately, the seals may include heat-resistant webs of material attached to the relatively moving parts, flexible, resilient sections of material such corrosion resistant, spring stainless steel or heat-resistant fabric affixed to one part and held against the other, or pads of fibrous, heat resistant material including those of alumina or silicon oxide fibres lodged between the moving parts. An air knife may keep combustion gasses within the main incinerator chamber. Combinations of these different seals can achieve isolation of the environment and obviate possible deleterious side effects of using only one type.

1 . In a system comprising first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path and motion means, coupled to said first and second surfaces, for moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface, the improvement comprising seal means, coupled to said first and second surfaces and extending along at least a portion of said linear path, for substantially preventing the passage of gas between said first and second surfaces at said portion, said seal means comprising: 
 A. retaining means, coupled to one of said first and second surfaces, for holding a substantially fluidized, nongaseous material; and    B. an immersion device, coupled to the other of said first and second surfaces and located, at least in part, in said material as said first surface moves along said substantially predetermined path.    
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said material is a liquid.  
   
   
       3  The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said material is a substantially fluid particulate solid.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein a gas is passed through said particulate solid.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 1  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means comprising said first surface and said wall means comprising said second surface.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 5  wherein said material is a liquid.  
   
   
       7  The improvement of  claim 5  wherein said material is a substantially fluid particulate solid.  
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 5  wherein a gas is passed through said particulate solid.  
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 5  wherein said seal means further comprises a substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material coupled to said floor means and to said wall means.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 5  further comprising a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means.  
   
   
       11 . The improvement of  claim 1  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along a substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first floor section comprising said first surface and said second floor section comprising said second surface and wherein said motion means moves said first and second floor sections relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, to said wall means, said retaining means is coupled to said chamber, and said immersion device is coupled to at least one of said first and second floor sections and is located in said material as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       12 . The improvement of  claim 11  wherein said retaining means is coupled to said wall means and said immersion device comprises first and second immersion sections coupled to said first and second floor sections, respectively, said first and second immersion sections being located at least in part, in said material as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       13 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein said material is a liquid.  
   
   
       14  The improvement of  claim 12  wherein said material is a substantially fluid particulate solid.  
   
   
       15 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein a gas is passed through said particulate solid.  
   
   
       16 . The improvement of  claim 11  further including a substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat-resistant web of material coupled to said first and second floor sections.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 11  further including a compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said portion.  
   
   
       18 . The improvement of  claim 11  wherein said retaining means is a first retaining means and said immersion device is a first immersion device, said wall means forms a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, said portion is a first portion, said seal means is further coupled to said wall means and extends along at least a second portion of said perimeter and substantially prevents the passage of gas between said wall means and said floor means at said second portion and said seal means further comprises: 
 A. second retaining means, coupled to one of said floor means and said wall means at said second portion, for holding a substantially fluidized, nongaseous material; and    B. a second immersion device, coupled to the other of said floor means and said wall means at said first portion, and located at least in part, in said material in said second retaining means as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.    
   
   
       19 . The improvement of  claim 18  wherein said seal means further comprises: 
 A. a first substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat-resistant web of material coupled to said first and second floor sections at said first portion; and    B. a second substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material coupled to said floor means and to said wall means at said second portion.    
   
   
       20 . The improvement of  claim 18  wherein said seal means further comprises: 
 A. a first compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said first portion; and    B. a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means at said second portion.    
   
   
       21 . The method of improving the atmospheric quality on at least one side of first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path comprising moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface; holding a substantially fluidized, nongaseous material onto one of said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said linear path; and holding an immersion device onto the other of said first and second surfaces and in said material as said one surface is moved along said substantially predetermined path.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse and an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse and wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means is said first surface and said wall means is said second surface, said substantially fluidized, nongaseous material is held on one of said floor means and said wall means along at least a portion of said perimeter; and said immersion device is held to the other of said floor means and said wall means along said portion of said perimeter, and located at least in part, in said material as said floor means is moved along said substantially predetermined path.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further including attaching a substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material to said floor means along said portion of said perimeter; and attaching said web of material to said wall means along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  further including retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along said substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first and second floor sections comprising said first and second surfaces respectively, said method comprising moving said first and second floor sections relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means; holding a substantially fluidized, nongaseous material onto said chamber along at least a portion of said linear path; and holding an immersion device onto at least one of said first and second floor sections and in said material as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising attaching a substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material to said first floor section along said portion of said linear path; and attaching said web of material to said second floor section along said portion of said linear path.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said first and second floor sections along said portion of said substantially linear path.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said retaining means is a first retaining means and said immersion device is a first immersion device, said wall means forms a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, said portion is a first portion, and said method further comprising holding a second retaining means to one of said floor means and said wall means at a second portion of said perimeter, said retaining means holding a substantially fluidized, nongaseous material; and holding a second immersion device to the other of said floor means and said wall means at said second portion, and located at least in part, in said material in said second retaining means as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising attaching a first substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material to said first floor section along said first portion of said linear path; attaching said first web of material to said second floor section along said portion of said linear path, attaching a second substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material to said floor means along said second portion of said linear path, and attaching said second web of to said wall means along said second portion of said linear path.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising retaining a first compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said first and second floor sections along said first portion of said substantially linear path and retaining a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said second portion of said linear path.  
   
   
       31 . In a system comprising first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path and motion means, coupled to said first and second surfaces, for moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface, the improvement comprising seal means, coupled to said first and second surfaces and extending along at least a portion of said linear path, for substantially preventing the passage of gas between said first and second surfaces, said seal means comprising a substantially flexible, gas-impervious web of material coupled to said first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       32 . The improvement of  claim 31  wherein said web forms an enclosure and further including a resilient material within said enclosure.  
   
   
       33 . The improvement of  claim 31  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means comprising said first surface and said wall means comprising said second surface.  
   
   
       34 . The improvement of  claim 33  wherein said web forms an enclosure and further including a resilient material within said enclosure.  
   
   
       35 . The improvement of  claim 33  further comprising a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means.  
   
   
       36 . The improvement of  claim 31  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along a substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first floor section comprising said first surface and said second floor section comprising said second surface and wherein said motion means moves said first and second floor sections relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means.  
   
   
       37 . The improvement of  claim 36  wherein said web forms an enclosure and further including a resilient material within said enclosure.  
   
   
       38 . The improvement of  claim 36  further including a compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said portion.  
   
   
       39 . The improvement of  claim 36  wherein said web is a first web, said wall means forms a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, said portion is a first portion, said seal means is further coupled to said wall means and extends along at least a second portion of said perimeter and substantially prevents the passage of gas between said wall means and said floor means at said second portion and said seal means further comprises a second substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat-resistant web of material coupled to said wall means and said floor means at said second portion.  
   
   
       40 . The improvement of  claim 39  wherein said seal means further comprises: 
 A. a first compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said first portion; and    B. a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means at said second portion.    
   
   
       41 . The method of improving the atmospheric quality on at least one side of first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path comprising moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface, attaching a substantially flexible, gas-impervious web of material to said first floor section along a portion of said substantially linear path and attaching said web of material to said second floor section along said portion of said substantially linear path.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse and an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse and wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means is said first surface and said wall means is said second surface, and said substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material is attached to said floor means along at least a portion of said perimeter; and to said wall means along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  further including retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along said substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means,-for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first and second floor sections comprising said first and second surfaces respectively, said first and second floor sections are moved relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means; and said substantially flexible, gas-impervious, heat resistant web of material is attached to said first floor section along at least a portion of said perimeter and is attached to said second floor section along said portion of said perimeter to said linear path as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said first and second floor sections along said portion of said substantially linear path as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said heat resistant web of material is a first heat resistant web of material, said portion is a first portion, and said method further comprising attaching a second heat resistant web of material to one of said floor means and said wall means at a second portion of said perimeter, and attaching said heat resistant web of material to the other of said floor means and said wall means at said second portion as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 47  further comprising retaining a first compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said first and second floor sections along said first portion of said substantially linear path and retaining a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said second portion of said linear path.  
   
   
       48 . In a system comprising first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path and motion means, coupled to said first and second surfaces, for moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface, the improvement comprising seal means, coupled to said first and second surfaces and extending along at least a portion of said linear path, for substantially preventing the passage of gas between said first and second surfaces at said portion, said seal means comprising a sheet of substantially flexible, gas-impervious, form-retaining material, affixed to one of said first and second surfaces and urged against the other of first and second surfaces and coaxing means, coupled to said material and to said one of said first and second surfaces, for forcing said material against the other of said first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       49 . The improvement of  claim 48  wherein said material is spring steel.  
   
   
       50 . The improvement of  claim 48  wherein said spring steel is corrosion-resistant.  
   
   
       51 . The improvement of  claim 48  further including cooling means, coupled to said material, for reducing the temperature of said material.  
   
   
       52 . The improvement of  claim 48  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means comprising said first surface and said wall means comprising said second surface.  
   
   
       53 . The improvement of  claim 52  wherein said material is corrosion-resistant spring steel.  
   
   
       54 . The improvement of  claim 52  further including cooling means, coupled to said material, for reducing the temperature of said material.  
   
   
       55 . The improvement of  claim 52  further comprising a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means.  
   
   
       56 . The improvement of  claim 48  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along a substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first floor section comprising said first surface and said second floor section comprising said second surface and wherein said motion means moves said first and second floor sections relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means  
   
   
       57 . The improvement of  claim 56  wherein said material is corrosion-resistant spring steel.  
   
   
       58 . The improvement of  claim 56  further including cooling means, coupled to said material, for reducing the temperature of said material.  
   
   
       59 . The improvement of  claim 56  further including a compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said portion.  
   
   
       60 . The improvement of  claim 56  wherein said sheet is a first sheet, said wall means forms a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, said portion is a first portion, said seal means is further coupled to said wall means and extends along at least a second portion of said perimeter and substantially prevents the passage of gas between said wall means and said floor means at said second portion and said seal means further comprises a second sheet of substantially flexible, gas-impervious, form-retaining material, affixed to one of said wall means and said floor means and urged against the other of said wall means and said floor means.  
   
   
       61 . The improvement of  claim 60  wherein said seal means further comprises: 
 A. a first compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said first and second floor sections at said first portion; and    B. a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material retained between said floor means and said wall means at said second portion.    
   
   
       62 . The method of improving the atmospheric quality on at least one side of first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path comprising moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface; comprising affixing a sheet of substantially flexible, gas-impervious, form-retaining material to one of said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said substantially linear path, urging said sheet of material against the other of first and second surfaces, and forcing said sheet of material against the other of first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse and an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse and wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means is said first surface and said wall means is said second surface, and said sheet of substantially flexible, gas-impervious, form-retaining material is affixed to one of said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said perimeter, said sheet of material is urged against the other of first and second surfaces along said portion of said perimeter, and said sheet of material is forced against the other of first and second surfaces along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  further including retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 62  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along said substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first and second floor sections comprising said first and second surfaces respectively, said first and second floor sections are moved relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means; and said sheet of substantially flexible, gas-impervious, form-retaining material is affixed to said first floor section along at least a portion of said perimeter, said sheet of material is urged against said second floor section along said portion of said perimeter, and said sheet of material is forced against second floor section along said portion of said perimeter  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising retaining a compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said, first and second floor sections along said portion of said substantially linear path as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein said sheet of material is a first sheet of material, said portion is a first portion, and said method further comprising attaching a second sheet of material to one of said floor means and said wall means at a second portion of said perimeter, and urging said second sheet of material against the other of said floor means and said wall means at said second portion, and forcing said second sheet of material against the other of said floor means and said wall means at said second portion as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising retaining a first compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said first and second floor sections along said first portion of said substantially linear path and retaining a second compressible, resilient substantially gas-impervious, heat-resistant pad of material between said floor means and said wall means along said second portion of said linear path.  
   
   
       69 . In a system comprising first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path and motion means, coupled to said first and second surfaces, for moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface, the improvement comprising seal means, coupled to said first and second surfaces and extending along at least a portion of said linear path, for substantially preventing the passage of gas between said first and second surfaces at said portion, said seal means comprising a compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, pad of material retained between said first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       70 . The improvement of  claim 69  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means comprising said first surface and said wall means comprising said second surface.  
   
   
       71 . The improvement of  claim 69  in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along a substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first floor section comprising said first surface and said second floor section comprising said second surface and wherein said motion means moves said first and second floor sections relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means  
   
   
       72 . The improvement of  claim 71  wherein said pad of material is a first pad of material, said wall means forms a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, said portion is a first portion, said seal means is further coupled to said wall means and extends along at least a second portion of said perimeter and substantially prevents the passage of gas between said wall means and said floor means at said second portion and said seal means further comprises a second compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, pad of material retained between said wall means and said floor means.  
   
   
       73 . The method of improving the atmospheric quality on at least one side of first and second surfaces meeting along a substantially linear path comprising moving said first surface along a substantially predetermined path relative to said second surface and retaining a compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, pad of material along at least a portion of said substantially linear path between said first and second surfaces.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse and an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse and wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said floor means is said first surface and said wall means is said second surface, and said compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, pad of material is retained between said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73  wherein said first and second surfaces form part of an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means comprising first and second floor sections meeting along said substantially linear path for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter as said linear path with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, said first and second floor sections comprising said first and second surfaces respectively, said first and second floor sections are moved relative to each other and along first and second substantially predetermined paths, respectively, relative to said wall means; and said compressible, resilient, substantially gas-impervious, pad of material is retained between said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein said pad of material is a first pad of material, said portion is a first portion, and said method further comprising retaining a second pad of material between said floor means and said wall means at a second portion of said perimeter as said first and second floor sections move relative to each other and along said substantially predetermined paths.  
   
   
       77 . In an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse and wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, the improvement comprising (a) containment means, coupled to said wall means and said floor means on the exterior of said substantially enclosed chamber and extending along at least a portion of said perimeter for holding a gas pressure greater than that (1) within said substantially enclosed chamber and (2) on the exterior of said substantially enclosed chamber and (b) seal means, coupled to said containment means, for maintaining said gas pressure within said containment means and at said portion of said perimeter greater than that (1) within said substantially enclosed chamber and (2) on the exterior of said substantially enclosed chamber.  
   
   
       78 . The improvement of  claim 77  wherein said chamber further includes motion means, coupled to said floor means and said wall means, for moving said floor means along a substantially predetermined path relative to said wall means and wherein said seal means increases said gas pressure within said containment means and at said portion of said perimeter when said motion means moves said floor means generally along said path but with substantial deviations from said path.  
   
   
       79 . The method for improving the atmospheric quality around an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse and an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber comprising increasing the gas pressure within a containment means, coupled to said wall means and said floor means on the exterior of said substantially enclosed chamber and extending along at least a portion of said perimeter to a level greater than that (1) within said substantially enclosed chamber and (2) on the exterior of said substantially enclosed chamber and at said portion of said perimeter and maintaining said gas pressure at said level.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79  further comprising moving said floor means along a substantially predetermined path relative to said wall means and maintaining said gas pressure at said level when said motion means moves said floor means generally along said path but with substantial deviations from said path.  
   
   
       81 . In an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, and motion means, coupled to said floor means and said wall means, for moving said floor means along a substantially predetermined path relative to said wall means, the improvement comprising protection means, coupled to said floor means and extending along at least a portion of said perimeter, for substantially preventing the passage of material on said floor means to said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       82 . The improvement of  claim 81  wherein said floor means includes steps on which said material sits and the tops of said steps slope away from said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       83 . The improvement of  claim 81  wherein said floor means includes a substantially vertical section at said portion of said perimeter and, at the top of said vertical section, a deflecting section having a horizontal component pointing away from said wall means and towards the interior of said chamber.  
   
   
       84 . The method for improving the atmospheric quality around or in an incinerator having a substantially enclosed combustion chamber with an inlet for the introduction of refuse, an outlet for the egress of the products of combustion, said chamber comprising floor means for supporting burning refuse, wall means, located above said floor means and forming a substantially closed perimeter with said floor means, for, with said floor means, providing said substantially enclosed chamber, comprising moving said floor means along a substantially predetermined path relative to said wall means and substantially preventing the passage of material on said floor means to said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein substantially preventing the passage of material on said floor means to said portion of said perimeter includes placing said material on steps forming part of said floor means with the tops of said steps sloping away from said portion of said perimeter and moving said material on said steps away from said portion of said perimeter.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 84  wherein substantially preventing the passage of material on said floor means to said portion of said perimeter includes placing said material on said floor means with said floor means having a substantially vertical section at said portion of said perimeter and, at the top of said vertical section, a deflecting section having a horizontal component pointing away from said wall means and towards the interior of said chamber and deflecting said material with said deflecting section away from said portion of said perimeter.